Dental Implants

What is a Dental Implant?

- A dental implant is a component or fixture with three components. Metal post or frames make up a Dental Implant.

- The lower component consists of a titanium screw. This lower component fixes into the jaw bone.

- The middle component termed an “abutment” serves as a connector between the lower titanium screw and the upper component that holds such fixtures like crown, bridge, or dentures.

Who can get Dental Implants?

- Anybody who has missing teeth (single, multiple or all) can get a dental implant.

- It is imperative that the patient has healthy gum and bone area. It is mandatory to ascertain this by the dentist before recommending Dental Implants.

- The person should be a non-smoker and a controlled diabetic or non-diabetic. In case the patient is a smoker, he/she should stop smoking for the initial period of 3 months when the implant fuses with the bone.

The General Steps Involved in Dental Implants

Generally, a dental implant would take up a time frame of three to nine months. This time frame is due to the healing process which would differ from patient to patient.

There are a total of two stages in the Dental Implants.

The first stage involves a surgery at the dentist office where the dentist fixes the metal (titanium) screw into the jawbone. The metal screw cannot be seen as it is inside the jawbone.

Post this surgery, the healing is allowed to take place. The bone needs to grow surrounding the implant. This is termed as Osseointegration.

The entire healing can take any time between three to six months.

Once the surrounding gum near the implant has also healed, the dentist proceeds to perform the second stage.

The second stage involves placing the abutment above the screw and mounting a crown that matches the tooth color atop the abutment. After this, the teeth look natural and aesthetic.

Single-stage Dental Implant

The traditional two-stage dental implant is being fast replaced by the single stage dental implant. The single-stage, however, can be recommended only under following conditions which can be ascertained by the dentist.

The bone quality should be good and the jaw bone length in the missing tooth area has to be sufficient.

Sufficient gum tissue needs to be present for proper suturing

Adequate healthy teeth need to be present so that the other teeth provide support while the implant heals.

In the single-stage, the implants and the abutment are placed in a single sitting. Above all the primary stability which is noted by the dentist after the placement of implants should be satisfactory.

The abutment is the connecting link between the implant and the crown that takes on the function of the natural tooth. If the primary stability is good and has been ascertained by the dentist then the dentist would proceed to provide crown (cap) in the next sitting (after 2 days).

Advantages of Single-stage Dental Implant

The treatment time is almost reduced to half

The number of sittings is also reduced to half

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants do not disturb the neighboring teeth. Unlike in conventional bridges and dentures, the adjacent teeth are not prepared to hold the new implant.

Since they have components fixed directly on to the jaw bones, they are more stable and strong and do not slip or shift inside the mouth.

The perfect natural look the implants give to the oral area makes the patient comfortable and confident.

They help restore original facial features.

Post Surgical Care

Generally, after Dental Implants are done, a meticulous oral hygiene is a necessity.

Take care to properly brush and floss your teeth regularly.

Rinse your oral area with a mouthwash after brushing or flossing your teeth.

Visit your dentist regularly between the two stages of the operative procedure. After the surgery is completely over the dental visit is mandatory. The frequency of visit shall be informed by your dentist.

Dental Implants in Different Scenarios

Single Tooth Missing

In this condition, only one tooth is missing. The tooth is missing either because it has fallen down due to any trauma or injury, or it has been extracted completely due to irreversible tooth decay where it could not be salvaged.

Many or Multiple Teeth Missing

This is a condition where more than 1 teeth are missing. The missing teeth can be adjoining or they can be completely different sets. If the missing teeth are adjacent three teeth, then an implant supported bridge is used. If the missing teeth are non-adjacent, most probably single implants are used.

All Teeth Missing

This condition is when all the teeth are missing. The options that can address edentulous patients are All-on-four dental implants, All-on-six dental implants, and Implant-supported Overdentures. Sometimes the patients might have many teeth missing but few teeth that are remaining are failing teeth and cannot be salvaged. For such patients too, the following options can be given.

Basal Implants

What are Basal Implants?

Basal Dental Implants are a part of advanced Implantology system which employs the basal portion of the jaw bones to retain the Implants. Basal Implants unlike the conventional implants are uniquely designed to accommodate themselves in the basal-cortical bone areas. The basal bones are always present in our life. They are very strong and they do not undergo any process of recession like the jaw bones. They are fixed and not changeable. Usually Basal Implants are done for people with severe bone loss, medically described as crestal alveolar bone atrophy. When all teeth are lost, the body assumes the portion supporting the tooth and its roots are no longer necessary. This causes the body to reabsorb the minerals form the teeth.

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Gum Care

Our teeth are held by the gum and they need absolute care so that all the teeth remain strong. Hence a robust gum care is a need to maintain a pleasant smile.

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